Death is a jarring topic. Bible scholar Ron Rhodes looks at how we approach some of the posthumous arrangements.
Is cremation sinful?
“The common [biblical] method of dealing with the dead is to bury them in the earth. And the practice of the early church fathers…was burial as well.”
Did it always happen?
No. Ron points out that in the Old Testament, Saul and his sons were cremated but the purpose of that cremation was to prevent their dead bodies from being desecrated at the hands of the Philistines. Regardless of how we handle the burial of a loved one, God’s power is not lessened.
“This is not going to prevent God from resurrecting you from the dead. The fact of the matter is that when we die, our bodies eventually return to dust. Even if you’re not cremated, given enough time, your body returns to the dust. From dust we came, to dust we return.”
God will resurrect us with the same power that resurrected Christ from the dead. Remember God’s power. He is the One who created us in the first place.
“He took all these atoms out of the dust and made that into a real live, fleshly human being. That God is not going to have any problem taking dust in the ground – whether it’s from you being cremated, or whether it’s from you dying and years passing – He’s not going to have any problem in resurrecting that person from the dead.”
What about death bed conversions? Can a loved one convert right before death? If so, is it genuine?
Ron points out that if we trust in Christ, we’ll be with Him regardless of where or when our conversion happens. But choose to trust Him today!
“As long as there is a breath in the human lung, there is the opportunity to trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. And the only time that you are not able to trust in Christ for salvation is once you have passed through death’s door. You do not get a second chance in the afterlife. That is why Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6 that now is the day of salvation.”
Consider Jesus. Choose this day whom you will serve, and live it fully.
“None of us knows when we’re going to die. If you pass through death’s door today and you haven’t trusted Christ, you will not have any further possibility of trusting in Him.”
Key Scriptures: Romans 10:10; Hebrews 13:1-2; 1 Corinthians 14; Nehemiah 9:6; Revelation 20
Featured Songs: Give Me Jesus by Danny Gokey; That Great Day (Second Coming) by Michael W. Smith and Darlene Zschech; You’re Here by Francesca Battestelli
